Lion fish

What do I need to know about keeping a dwarf lionfish? I'm thinking about buying one from liveaquaria.com, they say it can fit in a 30-gallon tank and won't grow to more than half a foot. But what else should I know about these fish, anything in particular?

 

Here are some links to look at!!

http://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/fishfacts/fish/dbrachyp.htm

http://www.animal-world.com/encyclo/marine/lions/lions.htm

http://centralpets.com/critterpages/fish/saltwater_fish/SWF2201.shtml

 

In general, depending on filtration capcity, 6" of adult fish would be the maximum for a 30 gallon tank. Any small fish suitable for the 30 gallon could become a menu item as Lionfish prefer live prey.

Be careful in cleaning a small tank as the spines are poisonous and you can get stung. Wearing gloves to clean your tank is a good idea.[]/b]

 

Hmmm my students want a lion fish for my 145 tank...well i tell them it is theirs but...well u get it...is this an easy one for them to have?...i would of couse protect it from them...i dont really trust them around living things...lol if u reading this class im Jk

 

bpayh, It doesn't deal with the care of the lionfish, but it is a good article. It even tells you what to do in case you are stung by the fish.
http://www.marineland.com/seascope/ss_Issue2_04.pdf


phil

 

Bruce,

What age are the students?
How will you protect them if they cannot be totally trusted to act maturely around living things?

Are you their teacher, and can you be with the tank at anytime students would be present? Are you responsible if someone gets injured, or is the school?

I personally would not put a venomous animal around other people's children, especially if they are not grown, if the venom makes adults ill, it may be fatal to smaller bodied persons. JMO.

 

Thats right birdlady. Some lionfish can kill small individuals (children for example) especially if they have an allergy to the venom of the fish.

Lionfish, even dwarfs, need swimspace. I think 50 gallons would be a minimum for dwarfs. 150 gallons for volitans.

 

Stings are no joke but not life threatening imo (no recorded death of aquarists) as i was stung by my dad's large russel's lion pretty badly along my knuckles when i was younger. I sset my friend up with a 26 bowfront bout 2 years ago and his fuzzy dwarf is doing great, along with a snowflake eel and a large damsel, but 50 gallons would be a heck of alot easier (volitans can be housed in 55's but will not reach full size) and much more stable. If you get one make sure itll accept frozen foods as goldfish, guppies, and ghost shrimp make poor substitutes for the crustateans they eat in the wild. Although it is exciting to watch them go from comotose to swooping across the tank for a guppy. as for swimming, freahly imported specimens only do so at night and dont do alot of it...they are an ambush predetor.

 

I had a 5-6 inch red lion for about 6 months. He was a very personable fish, always knew when i came to the room, But my problems was he would only eat guppies or goldfish. I traded him just due to the fact of having to keep a small tank for his fresh food. Other then that they are a beautiful fish to watch.

 

[quote author=buzzzsaw link=board=Fish;num=1101609239;start=0#8 date=11/30/04 at 06:03:34]Ihe would only eat guppies or goldfish. [/quote]

Goldfish and gupies contain fats that collect in the liver of lionfish and leads to their demise.